States May Get Second Chance At Insurance Exchange

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services officials told Montana legislators Tuesday that the agency is working on a new partnership model to let state agencies help run a health insurance exchange — perhaps without the need for legislative authorization.

Department of Health and Human Services regional director Marguerite Salazar said the proposal for the partnership is new within the past two months.

The exchange is designed to help uninsured people buy coverage from a choice of plans with federal tax credits.

Montana is one of many states that have so far refused to pass a law authorizing a state-level insurance exchange, paid for by the federal government.

Republican state Rep. Tom Berry said he likes the sound of a partnership that lets the state craft an exchange run by the feds.Story\

Story from AP